Ennis selected nation’s top STEM teacher
- Greg Ennis has been named National Teacher of the Year in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education by the Air Force Association. CONTRIBUTED
MADISON – The Air Force Association (AFA) has named Greg Ennis at James Clemens High School as the 2016 National Teacher of the Year in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).
The association partners with Rolls-Royce to encourage education in aerospace education and STEM. The Tennessee Valley Chapter of AFA nominated Ennis.
“Organizations, such as Air Force Association who are willing to go out of their way to support teachers and students through CyberPatriot, StellarXplorers, Teacher of the Year and other programs, are improving education for both students and teachers,” Ennis said.
A 12-year veteran teacher, Ennis has taught engineering for grades 9-12 during the last four years at James Clemens. An Air Force spokesperson said Ennis is “a stellar ‘alternative educator’ and a prime example of using industry experience as a platform for academic careers.” Ennis worked nine years in the engineering industry before teaching.
Starting as a substitute teacher, Ennis quickly found that working as an educator fulfilled his goal of giving back to the community by influencing young people in ways that will impact them and society far into the future, the spokesperson said.
At James Clemens, he founded, sponsors and mentors AFA StellarXplorers team, which qualified for the 2016 national finals. He also guides FIRST and MATE Robotics clubs; Society of Women Engineers chapter and its Girls in STEM club that mentors female elementary and middle school students; Engineering Club; and InSPIRESS competition (Increased Recruitment of Emerging STEM Students).
“Helping prepare your people for careers in STEM is vital to the future of both the U.S. Air Force and the aerospace industry,” Phil Burkholder with Rolls-Royce North America said.
“Congratulations to Greg Ennis for a job well done and for again showing that contrary to what the governor and many others think, we have people in our classrooms who ignore all the negativity and go about their jobs with great success,” Burkholder said.
Ennis also has taught at Walker and Cold Springs high schools and Good Hope Middle School and was named Teacher of the Year. In 2010, he was selected as a Siemens/Discovery Education STEM Academy Fellow.
Ennis will be recognized at the AFA National Convention in October.
